Preparation of CdS/ZnCdS/Ni(OH)2 hollow spheres and their photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution

Abstract

In order to cope with the increasingly severe global energy crisis and environmental challenges, photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen directly converts solar energy into hydrogen energy, which is a promising clean energy solution. In this study, a CdS/ZnCdS/Ni(OH)2 hollow sphere photocatalyst was designed, using CdS and ZnCdS solid solution as the core, which has a large specific surface area of hollow structure and Ni(OH)2 co-catalytic performance. Prepared with the assistance of SiO2 template, its hydrogen evolution rate reaches 1681 μmol/g/h (4.1 times that of pure CdS hollow spheres), and the synergistic catalytic effect is remarkable, providing new ideas for the development of low-cost, efficient and stable photocatalysts.

Keywords: Hollow ZnCdS, Flake Ni(OH)2, core-shell structure, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution